Seating arrangement

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a seating arrangement that includes a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat that is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion. The seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein. And, at least one of the end stops being reinforced and comprising a mouldable material moulded around a reinforcing pin.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefits of the earlier filed UK Application Serial No. 0227545.1, filed 26 Nov. 2002 (26 Nov. 2002), which is incorporated by reference for all purposes into this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field Of The Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a seating arrangement and more particularly to a seating arrangement for use in a stadium or auditorium in which a seat squab is pivotally mounted with respect to a seat back.

[0004] 2. Description Of The Related Art

[0005] A problem with stadium and arena seating is the amount of parts and complexity of the design necessary to achieve a sturdy and reliable product. Typically, expensive manufacturing processes have been used and it has not, hithero, been possible to manufacture the seat pivot parts using an injection moulding technique.

[0006] Additionally, seating solutions for large stadia and arenas often require bespoke fittings, either to meet a customer specification or to accommodate the characteristics of a particular stadium or arena. Some seating areas in the same arena may require arm rests, whereas in other areas arm rests are unnecessary. Further, stadia which have a floor with a terraced cross-section will need seats which can be mounted against a riser of a terrace, but in other areas of the same stadium, the seating may need to be mounted to a tread area of a terrace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to seek to provide a seat pivot capable of being moulded by injection moulding techniques, in particular by gas injection technology.

[0008] Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a seating arrangement comprising a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced and comprising a mouldable material moulded around a reinforcing pin.

[0009] Conveniently, a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and a bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss.

[0010] Advantageously, a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.

[0011] Preferably, the seating arrangement comprises one seat portion fixedly attached to the stanchion and the pivotally mounted seat.

[0012] Conveniently, the pivotable seat portion is pivotably mounted to the stanchion by the seat boss being journalled to the stanchion boss.

[0013] Advantageously, an interconnecting bush is located between the seat boss and stanchion boss, the length of the interconnecting bush determines the width between adjacent seats.

[0014] Preferably, an end-stop comprises a web of material projecting into the boss and defining a cavity, the cavity being filled with a reinforcing block which comprises the mouldable material moulded around the reinforcing pin.

[0015] Advantageously, the reinforcing pin comprises a metal pin.

[0016] Preferably, the pin is a metal pin which is inserted in or integrally formed with the boss.

[0017] Conveniently, the pivotable seat and seat boss are a single moulded item.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to seek to provide a seating arrangement which can accommodate different mounting requirements and accessories.

[0019] Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention provides a seating arrangement supported by an upright stanchion having a riser mount for attaching the stanchion to a riser wherein a foot mount is attachable to the stanchion by the riser mount, the foot mount having a mounting for attaching the foot mount to the floor to enable the stanchion to be attached to a floor area via the foot mount.

[0020] Conveniently, an arm portion is provided for attachment to the top of the stanchion.

[0021] Advantageously, an arm rest is attachable to the arm portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a seat embodying the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the seat of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the seat of FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seat squab for use with the seat of FIG. 1 showing detail of a seat boss and inserts therefor in exploded form;

[0027]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a seat boss and stanchion boss for use with the seat of FIG. 1 and a bush for insertion in the seat boss;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view through the assembled seat boss and stanchion boss with the seat in a seating condition; and

[0029]FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 6 with the seat in a tipped condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a seating arrangement 1 embodying the present invention comprises a pair of vertical stanchions 2 moulded from glass nylon, spaced apart from one another and bridged by a seat-back 3 which is attached at either side to upper regions 4 of each of the stanchions 2. The seat-back 3 is preferably injection moulded.

[0031] A lower region 5 of each of the stanchions 2 is provided with a pair of mounting holes 6 to allow the stanchion 2 to be fixed directly to a riser of a terrace or step. The stanchions 2 can, therefore conveniently be bolted to a riser.

[0032] Should riser mounting not be available in one area of the stadium, for example if two rows of seats are to be installed in the same level of terracing one behind another, then the front-most row can be mounted to the terrace by a foot module 7. The foot module 7 comprises a solid block having a sleeve 8 in a rear face thereof to receive at least part of the lower portion 5 of each of the stanchions 2 and is further formed with a retaining pocket 9 to receive a bottom tip 10 of the stanchion 2. The solid block of the foot module 7 provides a strut or buttress region 11 extending forwardly from the sleeve 8 so as to increase the level of support for the stanchion 2. Prior to the stanchion 2 being fixed to the foot module 7, the foot module 7 is fixed to the floor of the terrace by a pair of holes 12 in the foot module 7, one of which can best be seen in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings, there being another hole not visible in this view at the base of the sleeve 8, in the pocket 9, for attaching the foot module 7 to the floor. The stanchion 2 is then bolted when in position in the pocket and sleeve to the foot module 7 by the riser mountings 6.

[0033] Thus, this modular approach allows a common stanchion to be used irrespective of the mounting mode. If foot mounting is requested, then a foot module 7 is added to the assembly, otherwise riser mounting is available without need for appending any modules to the stanchion 2.

[0034] At about knee height, each of the stanchions 2 is provided with a stanchion boss 13 comprising a cylindrical boss having a cylindrical axis substantially transverse to the stanchions 2, substantially parallel to the floor and substantially co-axial with the cylindrical axis of the stanchion boss of the immediately adjacent stanchion.

[0035] Between each pair of stanchion bosses 13 is located a pivotable seat squab moulding 14, preferably manufactured by gas injection technology thereby eliminating the need for metal parts. The seat 14 has a seat boss 15 projecting from either side thereof in the form of a cylinder having an outer diameter which is a snug fit in the inner diameter of the stanchion boss 13. The seat boss 15 is designed to be inserted in the stanchion boss 13 for rotation.

[0036] The seat boss 15 has two diametrically opposed inwardly facing lobes 16 of a generally rounded triangular section which comprise seat stop lobes. The lobes 16 are in the form of a web of material contiguously moulded with the seat boss 15 and seat 14. The web of material defines a cavity 17 in each lobe 16. Referring now to FIG. 4 which shows the seat boss 15 in detail, a pair of inserts 18 are provided comprising solid wedges of material for a slide fit insertion in the cavities 17 of the lobes 16 thereby reinforcing the lobes. It is not possible to injection mould the lobes 16 as solid elements and provide the required load strength using injection moulding techniques, therefore, the inserts 18 are used to strengthen the lobes 16. The inserts 18 may be in the form of solid injection moulded blocks and preferably comprise injection moulded blocks with reinforcing pins moulded therein. The reinforcing pins may be metal pins.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 5, a bush 19 is inserted in the seat boss 15 so as to provide a bush for a pivot pin mounted in the stanchion boss 13 and also to act as a spacer to space apart the seat boss 15 from the stanchion boss 13 by a pre-determined distance determined by the length I of the spacer portion 20 of the bush 19.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, the bush 19 comprises a cylinder 21 having a central bore 22 suitable for receiving a pivot pin and acting as a bush, the cylinder 21 being formed by and surrounded with outwardly radiating fins 23 rounded at one end to assist with easy insertion in the seat boss 15. The bush 19 has a face plate 24 which is substantially circular except for two cut-outs 25 which correspond to the shape of the lobes 16 in the seat boss 15 such that when the bush 19 is inserted in the seat boss 15, the lobes 16 slide into the cut-outs 25 of the face plate 24 and the seat boss 15 presents an internal circular face plate surface 24 bar the diametrically opposite seat stop lobes 16 which project through the cut-outs 25 in the face plate 24.

[0039] Turning now to the stanchion boss 13, a central stainless steel pin 26 protrudes from the stanchion boss co-axial with the cylindrical axis of the stanchion boss 13. On either side of the central pivot pin, are two lobes 27 of substantially triangular cross-section similar to the lobes 16 formed in the seat boss 15. The stanchion lobes 27 preferably include stainless steel reinforcing pins 28 integrally moulded therewith or inserted therein.

[0040] With the bush 19 inserted in the seat boss 15 and the face plate 24 of the bush 19 lying within the seat boss 15, the seat boss 15 is presented to and inserted in the stanchion boss 13, the central pivot pin 26 of the stanchion boss 13 locating in the bore 22 and the ends of the two lobes 27 diametrically on opposite sides of the central pivot pin 26 abutting the surface of the face plate 24 of the bush 19. When viewed along the cylindrical axis of the stanchion boss 13, the stanchion lobes 27 look to be in the form of a butterfly or bow-tie. The bush 19 acts as a spacer by determining the location of the face plate 24 within the seat boss 15. If greater spacing is required between seats, then a longer bush (increasing length I of spacer portion 20) is provided and, conversely, if less width is required between the seats, then a shorter bush 19 is used.

[0041] With the central pin 26 located in the bush 19 and the stanchion lobes 27 abutting the face plate 24 of the bush 19 within the seat boss 15, the seat 14 is pivotally connected to the stanchion 2 and the extent of rotation of the seat 14 with respect to the stanchion 2 is determined by the location of the lobes 16,27 on the respective bosses 13,15. In the present example, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the use of reinforced lobes 16,27 on the seat boss 15 and stanchion boss 13, which lobes are located diametrically opposite one another, allows a rotation of almost 90° of the seat 14 from its seating configuration shown in FIG. 6 and its tipped upright configuration shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted that the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 is a relatively low load scenario, whereas in FIG. 6 when the seat is in its seating condition, significant loads are transmitted through the seat and stanchion bosses by way of the two pairs of lobes which abut one another. However, substantial surface areas of each of the lobes 16,27 contact one another and the lobes 16,27 are reinforced either by stainless steel metal pins in the lobes of the stanchion boss or by the solid inserts in the lobes of the seat boss so the torsional loadings are readily accommodated.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stanchion bosses 13 may be capped with an end-cap 29 or can be open to allow many seats to be connected to one another in a row, each stanchion 2 between adjacent seats comprising a common stanchion with a stanchion boss 13 having a pair of lobes 28 and pivot pin 26 sets projecting towards the neighbouring stanchion 2 in each direction so as to receive seat bosses 15 and their attached seats 14. A stanchion boss 13 at the end of a row would normally be end-capped and would not include a set of a pair of lobes 28 and pivot pin 26 facing away from the row.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the rear 30 of the seat squab 14 is preferably weighted so that the seat tips backwardly into its tipped configuration shown in FIG. 7 by the action of gravity. Weighting on the rear 30 of the seat squab 14 can be achieved by attaching weights to the seat squab after manufacture of the seat squab or by incorporating a weighted area when injection moulding the seat squab—for example a metal block in the rear rim of the seat squab.

[0044] Referring back to FIG. 3, an optional modular arm rest can be fixed to the upper region 4 of the stanchion 2. An arm is provided by fitting a cup 31 over the upper region 4 of the stanchion 2, the cup 31 having a projecting cantilevered side arm 32 and affixing a cushioned arm rest 33 or the like to the arm 32. If no arm rest is required, then the cup 31 can simply be removed from the stanchion 2.

[0045] The seating arrangement described above offers a fully modular design with optional arms 32 and arm rests 33 and optional mounting means 6,7 for the stanchion 2. A basic riser mount 6 on the stanchion 2 can be readily upgraded to tread mount or foot mount 7 as required by the customer's specification or the requirements of the seating arrangements.

[0046] The above-mentioned seating arrangement greatly reduces the number of parts and metal parts that are required relying heavily upon efficient and durable products achieved primarily by gas injection moulding techniques. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seating arrangement comprising: a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced and comprising a mouldable material moulded around a reinforcing pin.
 2. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and a bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss.
 3. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.
 4. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the seating arrangement is fixedly attached to the stanchion and pivotally mounted to the seat.
 5. The seating arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the pivotable seat portion is pivotably mounted to the stanchion by the seat boss being journalled to the stanchion boss.
 6. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an interconnecting bush is located between the seat boss and stanchion boss, the length of the interconnecting bush determines the width between adjacent seats.
 7. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an end-stop comprises a web of material projecting into the boss and defining a cavity, the cavity being filled with a reinforcing block which comprises the mouldable material moulded around the reinforcing pin.
 8. The seating arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing pin comprises a metal pin.
 9. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pin is a metal pin which is inserted in or integrally formed with the boss.
 10. The seating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pivotable seat and seat boss are a single moulded item.
 11. A seating arrangement supported by an upright stanchion having a riser mount for attaching the stanchion to a riser wherein a foot mount is attachable to the stanchion by the riser mount, the foot mount having a mounting for attaching the foot mount to the floor to enable the stanchion to be attached to a floor area via the foot mount.
 12. The seating arrangement according to claim 11, wherein an arm portion is provided for attachment to the top of the stanchion.
 13. The seating arrangement according to claim 12, wherein an arm rest is attachable to the arm portion.
 14. A seating arrangement comprising: a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced, there being an interconnecting bush located between the seat boss and stanchion boss, the length of the interconnecting bush determining the width between adjacent seats.
 15. The seating arrangement according to claim 14, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and the interconnecting seat bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss.
 16. The seating arrangement according to claim 14, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.
 17. The seating arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the pivotable seat and seat boss are a single moulded item.
 18. A seating arrangement comprising: a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced, the pivotable seat, the seat boss and the end-stops in the seat boss are formed as a single moulded item.
 19. The seating arrangement according to claim 18, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and a bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss, the stanchion and the stanchion boss being formed as a single moulded item.
 20. The seating arrangement according to claim 19, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.
 21. A method to manufacture a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced and comprising a mouldable material moulded around a reinforcing pin.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and a bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein a portion of the seating arrangement is fixedly attached to the stanchion and pivotally mounted to the seat.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pivotable seat portion is pivotably mounted to the stanchion by the seat boss being journalled to the stanchion boss.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein an interconnecting bush is located between the seat boss and stanchion boss, the length of the interconnecting bush determines the width between adjacent seats.
 27. The method of claim 21, wherein an end-stop comprises a web of material projecting into the boss and defining a cavity, the cavity being filled with a reinforcing block which comprises the mouldable material moulded around the reinforcing pin.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the reinforcing pin comprises a metal pin.
 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the pin is a metal pin which is inserted in or integrally formed with the boss.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the pivotable seat and seat boss are a single moulded item.
 31. A method to manufacture a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a seating arrangement supported by an upright stanchion having a riser mount for attaching the stanchion to a riser wherein a foot mount is attachable to the stanchion by the riser mount, the foot mount having a mounting for attaching the foot mount to the floor to enable the stanchion to be attached to a floor area via the foot mount.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein an arm portion is provided for attachment to the top of the stanchion.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein an arm rest is attachable to the arm portion.
 34. A method to manufacture a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced, there being an interconnecting bush located between the seat boss and stanchion boss, the length of the interconnecting bush determining the width between adjacent seats.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and the interconnecting seat bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another.
 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the pivotable seat and seat boss are a single moulded item.
 38. A method to manufacture a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a stanchion and a pivotably mounted seat, wherein the pivotably mounted seat is connected to the stanchion by a seat boss provided on the seat and a stanchion boss provided on the stanchion, the seat boss and the stanchion boss having end-stops formed therein, at least one of the end stops being reinforced, the pivotable seat, the seat boss and the end-stops in the seat boss are formed as a single moulded item.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein a pivot pin is provided on one of the seat boss and the stanchion boss and a bush is provided on the other of the seat boss and the stanchion boss to journal the seat boss to the stanchion boss, the stanchion and the stanchion boss being formed as a single moulded item.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein a pair of end-stops are provided in the seat boss and a pair of end-stops are provided in the stanchion boss, the end-stops in the seat boss being diametrically opposite one another and the end-stops in the stanchion boss also being diametrically opposite one another. 